My father will not allow me to keep pet rats because he believes that if they eat meat then they will kill us. I don't believe this is true. Does anyone have some real evidence that this is true/not true?
2007-08-01 21:07:03 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Rodents
Domestic rats will not eat you. They are omnivores, which means they can and do eat meat (I give my girls chicken bones to help keep their teeth ground down), but they won't even bite you unless you neglect or abuse them. The only time I've been bitten is when my finger was in the way of a REALLY tasty treat, and that's been like... twice in the whole time I've been keeping rats.
I've also been bitten by a wild norway rat while sleeping. It had gotten in through a window that had been left open for the cats. Ironicly, our domestic rat cage was next to the window and he'd walked over it. After I live trapped the wild rat, I noticed that my domestic rat had torn the hell out of his tail while the cat had taken no notice. VIVA GUARD RAT!
It sounds like your dad needs a big fat report filled with FACTS about rats. Check out these links below and enlighten him. =)
2007-08-02 06:07:57 · answer #1 · answered by nepherym 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Where do people get these ideas? I've heard the same thing about ferrets & it's not true for either species.
Ok, here's some proof that rats won't kill you even if they eat meat. Our current rats & mice happen to be vegetarian because *we're* vegetarian, but I've lived with several perfectly sweet meat-eating rats *before* I became vegetarian. Nothing in *any* of the rat care books, leaflets or websites I've ever seen has even mentioned the possibility of a rat killing a human. Not one person among the various breeders, rescues, or other rat lovers has ever voiced this concern & I know for a fact that a lot of these ppl feed their rats meat.
Actually, if that's your dad's only concern, you could always give your rats a good healthy diet that doesn't include meat.
2007-08-03 00:12:56 · answer #2 · answered by Catkin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rats cannot kill you, much less WANT to kill you. They are very sweet animals and love to have human attention. It may be true that feeding meat to rats might make them more aggressive (either toward each other or your fingers), but more often than not, if you treat them right, they will love you and you should have no problems.
After I feed my cat, sometimes I let my rats "lick the spoon." They get some meat this way (and they love it!), and I haven't had any problems with biting or aggression. But I don't do it very often because cat food is fattening. Also, I make sure that they are calm and each get a piece to themselves.
2007-08-02 11:32:13 · answer #3 · answered by KityKity 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
rats are omnivores... this means that they will eat a little bit of everything. i have had rats that liked meat and rats than DID NOT like meat. some rats like cheese and some do not. when you have pet rats they love you. you feed them and become their friend and they know this.
i suggest that you and your father go and visit some of the rat sites on the internet. just type in pet rats or fancy rats in the search bar... good luck
2007-08-06 01:45:12 · answer #4 · answered by ratgirldjh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seriously? Rats wont eat you! They hardly even bite unless threatened, like any other animal. Its sad how much of a bad rep rats have. They are so intelligent and kind.
2007-08-02 09:53:03 · answer #5 · answered by chevalrose 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't be silly! Rats won't eat you! get a book out of the library to convince your Dad!
Also try this siteto help you:
http://www.ratz.co.uk/petrat.html#Feeding%20rats
2007-08-02 04:57:16 · answer #6 · answered by Liv54 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
they can eat meat if you want them to i think it is an excuse because he doesnt like their tail big wuss
rats can eat meat and bones and vegtables and they won't kill you it is impossible for them to kill you un less you triped up over them and banged you head which wouldn't be there fault
2007-08-02 15:06:57 · answer #7 · answered by sassy g 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A rat isn't going to kill you. It just isn't big enough. They are smart and wouldn't even try to take on a human. Now if you just happened to die, and the rat was not confined, it wouldn't hesitate to eat the flesh and muscle off of your carcass.
2007-08-02 04:18:27 · answer #8 · answered by NinjenWV 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
if u feed a rat meat it will become more independant and possibly more agressive
dont feed it meat
even if u fead it meat it wouldnt kill u
2007-08-02 14:24:17 · answer #9 · answered by shannon 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ignore that guy. Rats kill people all the time. Do not keep them as pets, they are very dangerous.
2007-08-02 04:47:05 · answer #10 · answered by Mimik 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋